11. The smell of a Christmas tree.
I walk by and whiff the thing so many times a day, I fear my autoimmune system is going to kick out a Christmas tree allergy one of these days.
There’s nothing that snatches me out of the present and plunges me into the past more than the smell of a fresh Christmas tree.
I even love sweeping up the needles!
Okay, no I don’t.
10. The smell of Yankee Apple Cider candles.
If you ain’t smelled one, ya gotta.
9. The smell of cinnamon rolls.
They smell the same as they did forty years ago when I was making ’em with my mother.
8. Johnny Mathis.
Note I did not say “the smell of Johnny Mathis.” And I’m sure Johnny Mathis smells wonderful, I just don’t have any firsthand knowledge of this. I do have firsthand knowledge of how he sounds, and his Christmas music is the best. He beats Bing.
Please don’t tell Bing I said that.
7. Memories of Ga-Ga’s house.
She always had hot cider.
6. Memories of Grandma Helen’s house.
She always had bubble lights on her tree.
5. Christmas movies.
It’s a Wonderful Life. Miracle on 34th Street. Elf.
You know…the classics.
4. Elf.
“You smell like beef and cheese, you don’t smell like Santa!”
“You sit on a throne of LIES.”
“Smiling’s my favorite.”
“SON of a NUTcracker!”
“I’m a cotton-headed ninny-muggins.”
3. Christmas Hymns.
Silent Night. O Little Town of Bethlehem. Go Tell it on the Mountain. Joy to the World. Hark the Herald Angels Sing. O Come All Ye Faithful. We Three Kings.
And my favorite.
Are you ready?
Here goes.
O Holy Night.
You can find a million professionally recorded versions, but this one by Backpacking Dad has been my favorite for the past couple of years because Shawn is just sitting there at his computer like a regular guy…then he hits record and belts one of the most beautiful Christmas songs in existence like no one’s business.
I don’t know why, but it gets me every time.
*Sniff*
2. Figuring out what to get Marlboro Man.
If I told you what I got him this year, you would laugh and he would probably read it, so I can’t tell you. But I promise to tell you after I’ve given it to him.
It begins with a “C.” It isn’t a car. He has one of those.
It isn’t a cow. He has a few of those.
It isn’t cowboy boots. He has those, too.
It isn’t carpet. It isn’t cologne. It isn’t a carburetor. It isn’t a chain. It isn’t chocolate. It isn’t a cat. It isn’t a Carhartt.
And that’s all I’m going to say at this time.
1. My kids.
Like, totally. Having kids at Christmastime makes it all make sense. They remind you of Christmas when you were a kid, they make everything fun, they make everything crazy, they make everything messy, and they make everything wonderful.
Darn wonderful.
Hope you’re all having a wonderful week-before-Christmas!
Love,
P-Dub
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
